Fastener for envelops



(No Model.) E. L. OALAHAN.

FASTENER FOR ENVELOPS, &c.

No. 575,775. Patented J55. 25, 1597.

ATTORN EY about to be closed into position.

NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

EDWARD L. OALAHAN, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FASTENER'FOR ENVELO Ps, 800.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 575,775, dated January 26, 1897.

Application filed September 19, 1896. Serial No. 606,428. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. CALAHAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented an Improved Fastener for Envelops, &c., of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a detachable fastening for envelops, wrappers, or paper boxes designed for containing second-class mail-matter or other articles. I attach to or form with the inclosing flap of the envelop, wrapper, or receptacle an extension having two locking-tongues which engage slits in the back of the envelop, wrapper, or box in opposite directions.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention as applied to an envelop opening at the end, Figure 1 is an elevation of the back of an envelop with the flap opened; Fig. 2, a similar view with the flap closed; Fig. 3, a vertical section showing the flap partly closed and the fastening device as Fig. at is a similar view showing the fastening device closed.

The body of the envelop A is formed in its back face with two slits a a a suitable distance apart. The extension B of the closingflap is .in the present instance shown separately formed and attached to the closingfiap. When so separately formed, it maybe made of a different and heaviermaterial than that of the body of the envelop. This extension has two locking-tongues engaging the slits a a, respectively. The end 0 of the extension B forms one locking-tongue that engages the slit a and is formed with shoulders c, that limit its entrance into such slit. The other locking-tongue D is formed by an irregular cut in the body of the part B, the out being of such shape as to form the free tongue D with shoulders d, that limit its entrance into the slit a.

Fig. 3 shows the manner of closing the fastening. The closing-flap of the envelop is folded down and the tongue D, being pressed inwardly toward the back of the envelop, is caused to enter the slot or slit a, assuming the position indicated in Figs. 2 and 4:. The other tongue, 0, is then bent so as to permit of its insertion into the slit a, as clearly indicated in the same figures. The shoulders c c and d cl form limiting-stops that prevent the movement of the fastening endwise in the plane of the envelop.

It will be obvious that this fastening may be readily closed whatever the contents of the envelop or package may be, and that when closed it forms a secure fastening that retains the contents of the envelop and that permits of the ready opening of the envelop or other receptacle for the inspection of the contents thereof.

An envelop or receptacle, as well as the part B and the tongues O D, may of course be of any suitable material, the only requisite being that the tongues shall be of sufficient flexibility to permit their manipulation for insertion into the slits a and a".

I claim as my invention- 1. An envelop or similar article having slits a a in the body thereof, and a part as B havinglocking-tongues G D extending in opposite directions, and adapted to oppositely engage the slits a a, substantially as set forth.

2. An envelop or similar article having slits a a in its body, and afastening part as B having fastening-tongues O D respectively formed with limiting-shoulders c c and d d, and adapted to engage said slits in opposite directions, substantially as described.

3. In an envelop-fastening, the combination with the envelop having slits a a in its side, of a fastener B separately formed and attached to the closing-flap of the envelop, and having locking-tongues O D projecting in opposite directions, and adapted to oppositely engage the slits a 0..

4. In an envelop-fastening, the combination with the envelop having slits a ct in its side, of a fastener B separately formed and attached to the closing-flap ofthe envelop, and having locking-tongues C D projecting in opposite directions and formed with shoulders, and adapted to oppositely engage the slits a a.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub= scribed my name.

EDWARD L. OALAHAN.

Witnesses:

FRANK S. OBER, EDWARD O. DAVIDSON, 

